The Coup

Episode Number: 1.14

Original Air Date: February 24, 2002

Written By: Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci

Directed By: Tom Wright

Summary:
In the aftermath of last week's episode, SD-6 discovers that a rival agency, FTL, suffered a similar attack on the exact same day. The end result was the leader of the FTL executed in broad daylight with witnesses. Sloane is deeply distressed over the theft of the Rambaldi artifact and has learned that the mysterious group, which attacked SD-6, has a secret meeting planned with K-Directorate.

Sydney and Dixon are being sent to Las Vegas to plant a listening device on a K-Directorate agent, who they believe knows where this meeting is to take place. Sydney shares that she will be going to Las Vegas on a business trip with her roommate Francie. Francie and her fiancé, Charlie, think the trip to Vegas sounds like fun and suggest they go at the same time. In an effort to change their minds, Sydney tells Francie that she will be far too busy to socialize and suggests another date for the three of them to go. Francie reluctantly agrees.

Will continues to investigate SD-6 and meets with David McNeil. McNeil developed a plan for Will to recover and download a digital guest book that can be used to further his investigation into SD-6.

Sydney learns, through a student on campus, that Charlie recently had an affair with another woman. Vaughn and Sydney meet to discuss what happened at SD-6. Sydney leaves for Las Vegas only to find that Francie and Charlie are at the same casino. Dixon's mission is to pose as a Jamaican Diplomat so he can enter into a card game with the K-Directorate agent. Sydney must watch Dixon through a surveillance camera and help him win so he can plant the listening device. Everything is going according to plan when Sydney, on another surveillance camera, sees Francie and Charlie enter a wedding chapel. Sydney interrupts her mission with Dixon to prevent Francie from marrying Charlie.

In the mean time, security for the casino receives information that the real diplomat for Jamaica has been detained and Dixon's cover is blown. Although their mission is a success, Dixon and Sydney just barely escape Las Vegas. Through the listening device planted by Dixon, Sloane is able to determine that the meeting between the mystery group and K-Directorate is in Russia. He instructs Sydney and Dixon on their mission and they are to leave for Moscow that evening.

Vaughn and Sydney meet at Griffith Park where Vaughn instructs Sydney where to leave her information from Russia. Before leaving, there is a tender moment when Vaughn confesses to Sydney that he would like nothing more than to go to a hockey game with her, to be together and see her face in public.

Francie and Charlie return from Las Vegas and Sydney tells Francie about Charlie's affair. Francie does not believe Sydney and hurtful words are spoken. In Russia, Sydney surveils the meeting between K-Directorate and a man known as Mr. Sark. Sark makes an offer to buy a Rambaldi artifact in K-Directorate's possession, but his offer is declined. Sark orders the murder of the K-Directorate leader and proposes the same offer to his next in charge. The offer is accepted. At the same time, Sydney loses her footing outside the window, which causes stone to fall on a guard below. The guard notices Sydney and immediately opens fire on her with his machine gun.